In a deeply personal and visually striking collection, Brazilian-born, London-based photographer Asafe Ghalib turns his lens on Britain's queer immigrant community. His project, featuring monochromatic portraits that echo historical photographs and traditional family albums, aims to transform his subjects into their "rawest, most beautiful and most empowered" forms.
Capturing Authenticity and Empowerment
Ghalib photographs friends and fellow artists who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, often working with individuals alone to allow their full personality to emerge. "The space we create together during the shoot is a special occasion," explains Ghalib, "where we can learn from each other and communicate the person's ideas in their rawest, most beautiful and most empowered form."
A Historical Context for Contemporary Stories
The photographer deliberately uses monochromatic colours that resemble newspapers and historical photographs from old books and magazines. "It is by embracing these parameters," Ghalib notes, "that I create a place to be reclaimed, showing the importance of each and every person that I photograph in their own manner."
This approach serves to place contemporary queer immigrant stories within a broader historical context, bringing awareness to what Ghalib describes as "the long-resisting and historically misrepresented queer community."
Confronting Stereotypes and Reshaping Narratives
For many of the subjects and collaborators, the work represents both confrontation and pride. "My work is an act of both confrontation and pride," says one participant. "It is a collective effort to reshape the narrative surrounding our community and challenge the misconceptions that have perpetuated our misrepresentation."
Another collaborator emphasises how the project aims to "confront societal expectations and stereotypes, ultimately fostering a more accurate understanding of our community's identity." Through visual storytelling, viewers are invited to "embark on this journey with us, immersing themselves in the complexities and triumphs of our lives."
Editorial Works and Collaborative Spirit
The project includes editorial works created in collaboration with various magazines and campaigns that specifically centre the queer community. For the photographers involved, these images represent far more than mere commissions.
"These editorial collaborations served not only as a form of recognition," explains one contributor, "but also as a powerful continuation of my desire to make vital space for authenticity and beauty within the queer narrative."
The collaborative nature of the work receives particular emphasis, with participants expressing gratitude for "the incredible collaborators who brought these visions to life." Each shoot is described as "a true celebration of queer presence, expression and solidarity," directly emphasising the community-driven nature of the project.
Reclaiming Humanity Through Visibility
Photographer Prishita Maheshwari-Aplin observes that "Ghalib's photography reclaims humanity through visibility, insisting on the dignity of those too often erased – queer, migrant, othered – and celebrating their power to imagine and inhabit new worlds."
The project stands as a powerful testament to resilience, visibility and belonging within Britain's queer immigrant community. Through carefully composed portraits that echo historical photographic traditions while asserting contemporary identities, Ghalib and his collaborators create what they describe as "a safe space for the viewer through the exploration of identity."
As the work continues to develop and reach wider audiences, it serves as both documentation and celebration – capturing individual stories while contributing to broader conversations about representation, identity and community in modern Britain.
